Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 6 May 1737

Document Type: Letter
Date: 6 May 1737
Correspondent: Nicholas Walton
Recipient: William Corbett
Archive Source: TNA ADM 66 106
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To Mr Wm Corbett Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle  May 6th 1737

Sr                                                                              

	We recd yours with the Minutes of the Board of the 20th of April last and Mr Maules remarks upon our Conduct in the management of the Derwentwater Estate which we are Sorry he has had the Trouble of and that he has had reason to trouble the Board therewith as we can asure them and you of our great desire to Serve the Honble Board wth all the integrity imaginable and with the Strictest Justice & tho by the great hurry we have had in Letting the Estate we may have Sliped somethings that otherwise would have been observed yet we dare venture to say the Hospitall has not Suffered anything under our Care where it has been in our power to prevent it

	Inclosed we send you answers to Each paragraph in the observations.  The Original apraizment or Sale of Redheaths Stock Mr Stephenson Moor Masters Accot of the Dues of Lead Oare for the year 1735 & 1736 an abstract thereof & what they amount to & if agreemt with the Quakers Companys Agent for the Same these things we send with our answers for the Boards Satisfaction wch we hope will together Shew our Integrity and that we mean to doe ‘em nothing but Justice what papers you now receive being Originalls except our answers to the observations will be of use to us therefore we Desire you will after you have made the proper use of ‘em return ‘em to us

	You were acquainted the 4th Decer last wth a Claim being made to Haydon Town Farme as being on an Old Lease not yet expired at the yearly rent of £32 and in answer thereto the Board were pleased to order a further enquiry to be made into the Claime which has been accordingly done but tho’ the Farme was Confirmed to Jno Fairlam and John Bell at £45 per Ann of which the Claimants were aprized they did not produce any thing to Shew their Right till Just before mayday when they produced a Copy of a Claime made by them at the Forfeiture wch they say was allowed of a copy whereof you have Inclosed, you wll be pleased to observe that tho’ this Claim is produced Green one of the Claimants axcepted of a New Lease from the Derwt Family under which he enjoyed 21 Years at an advance Rent wch Mr Gray is of opinion destroys the Title they pretend to by virtue of this Claim we have therefore by the advice of Mr Gray Served ejectn upon the Claimants Edwd Green Jno Green Thos Hawden Edwd Coates and widdow Green in order to throw ‘em out of possession next Term & we hope the Board will approve thereof Mr Aynsley we are Informd has been so friendly as to bind all the parties in £100 to Stand as a Tryall

	we have further to acquaint you that 2 days before Mayday Mr Aynsley produced an Article for a Lease of Dilston Mill under the hand of Mr Thos Errington late Agent to the Derwentwater family Signed in the Guardianship of the Countess of Derwentwater & Sr John Webb whereby it appears that he had a Terme in those mills for four Years yett to come at a yearly rent of £15 – we have taken Councellor Grays advice about this afair  and he Says that the Article cannot be of any use Longer than Mr Errington had a power to lett which could be no longer than the Guardianship Subsisted and Consequently Mr Aynsley can have a right by vertue of that article no longer than Mr Radcliffe wd have been at age when the Guardianship and the power given Mr Errington ceased to all intents and purposes we have therefore ordered Mr Airey to Serve Ejectmts upon Mr Aynsley, but he has thot fitt to promise he will give the Tennant no trouble & leaves it to the Board to determine whether he has a right or not we therefore begg the Board will be pleased to give us proper Instructions therein that we may have an Intire end made to the dispute.

	we are Sorry to Acquaint you with the Accident of a Fire at Keswick wch burnt down a Kill for Drying Oates belonging to the Hospitall by wch Accident the poor farmer as well as the Hospitall are Sufferers we have agreed with Jas Bow & Ptner for buildg the Same again and are to pay them for that work £7.5 and hope the Board will approve thereof

	as we are informed that in some of the Southern Estates near London the Charge of the Leases are paid by the Tennants Solely & as it is the Custom of this Country for the Landlord to pay for his part we thought proper to acquaint you with it as it is necessary that the Board should be Informed of it this has always been done in the Derwentwater Estate

	The Quarterly Accot of the Contingent Charges without order of the Board would have been sent you at Candlemas last but that we have been so buisey kept making Computations about the Repaires & the other necessary business relating the Estate we Concluded if we sent that Accot at Mayday and afterwards quarterly it wd be aproved of particularly at a time when when we have had so much business upon us; it shall Sr be sent with our Cash Accot for April next post or on Tuesday at Farthest & we are

                                                                                             Sr your most Obdt Servts

                                                                                                 Nichos Walton

                                                                                                 Hugh Boag





Observations relating to the Derwentwater Estate, humbly offered to the Consideration of the Honoble Board of Directors of the Greenwich Hospital the 20 April 1737 with the Receivers Answers thereto the 6th May 1737 Vizt



Boards Minutes

1735/6 Febry 4th The Receivers are to Sell all the Dues of Lead Oare, which was wrought in or before the year 1735, as well as well as the Dues which may arise in this year to the best Advantage.



Mr Maules Remarks

It appears by a Letter from the Moor Master that there had been raised from Peatslack Hill Vein alone between Christmas 1735 & the 2d Octor 1736, near 220 Bings besides what may have been Raised before and Since from that & other Mines none of which is brought to Account by the Receivers nor any Accot of its being Sold as ordered by this Minute.

      NB Each Bing of Oar is worth 42sh or 43sh at least.



Receivers Answer

      The Dues of Lead Oare within the Mannor of Alston moore, raised in the years 1735 & 1736 were Sold to the Governr & Co for Smelting down Lead etc the 18 June last as appears by an Agreement under the hand of their Agent, Mr Abraham Watson Sent herewith as Also the Moore Masters Accot of the Delivery thereof and an Abstract shewing the Totall of each Sort of Oare & what it amounts to.  The time of payment for those Dues was the 1st of April last & we have within that Month recd £700 in part.  The prices of Oare is always governed by the prices Lead Sells for, & there is at all times 5s difference between Bouse & Cutting Oare.  The 220 Bings said to be raised at Peatstack hill was the whole quantity computed at that time & not the Dues only.

	We apprehended that it was the Boards desire not to be troubled with things of this kind till they were Completed, & we intended it should have Come with our Cash Accot for the Month of April last.





Boards Minutes

1735/6 Febry 24th Ordered Mr Watsons Accot delivered us by Mr Gilling of the Fee Farm Rents & Outgoings Issuing out of & payble from the Derwentwater Estate to Sundry Persons amounting in the whole to £111.8.21/2 per Ann be Sent to the Recers & if the Same Accot should not be right or Exact in any particular they are to Send their Remarks & Observations thereon to this Board.



Mr Maules Remarks

	I don’t find any Inquiry has been made about this Affair, on the Contrary I find by the last Cash Accot reced from them they have Suffered Mr Fenwick to levy a Small Rent of 3/4 per Ann due to him by that Accot for Buteland by Distress made on the Tennant the Expence of which they Charge on the Hospital in their Cash Accot for February.

	NB There are a great many of these Small Rents Still owing & if not Soon look’d into may be levyed in the Same Manner, which will be an Expence to the Hospital if the Consequence is not worse, therefore wth Submission I think deserves the Consideration of the Board.



Receivers Answer

      The Accot of the Fee Farm Rents & Outgoings Issuing out of the Derwentwater Estate, we acknowledged the rect of the 7 March 1735/6 & so farr as we have had an opportunity of examining it, we find the same to be right with the addition of £1.1.- per Annum due to Walter Blackett Esqr for Coastley Tyths & it is incosted in the Rentall made up by Mr Boag at London amongst the other Outgoings amounting in all to £112.9.21/2.

	The distress made by Mr Fenwick was for 5 Years Arrear, 3 whereof in the late Receivers time, & the other two years Since we have had the Honr to be Concerned, but till the time that we allowed it to the Tennant we never heard of a demand or that Such distress was made & as it then appeared to agree with the Outgoings & the Charge that had accrued only 2/6 it was thought not worth disputing.  We cannot think there can be any Ill Consequence attending the Nonpayment of Fee Farme Rents nay Mr Gray on the Contrary In forms us that all Fee Farm Rents Issuing out of the Derwentwater Estate & not Claimed at the Forfeiture are without dispute forfeited & not now liable to be pay’d by the Hospital.  As this may therefore we humbly think deserve the Consideration of the Board, we desire their directions whether we must pay any more Outgoings of that kind or not.





Boards Minutes

1736 Sepr 1st Ordered, that the Recers do Sell the Deer in Dilston Park on the best Terms & assoon as they can.



Mr Maules Remarks

It does not appear that any Notice has been taken of this Minute.



Receivers Answer

The Orders we had for Selling the Deer in Dilston park was observed as much as we could yett we could gett no more than two Sold at 16s each, wch were killed by Mr Sunderland & others & will be brought to Accot amongst Severall Small things reced by Mr Bunting Bailiff in this Month.





Boards Minutes

1736 Novr 17th Ordered that the Receivers do Sell the Coppers in Dilston House for the most they can gett for them



Mr Maules Remarks

It does not appear that any Notice has been taken of this Minute.



Receivers Answer

The Coppers in Dilston House has been exposed to Sale but we have not yett been able to Sell ‘em at what we believe they are worth.  & we did not apprehend it was necessary to acquaint the Board or give them any trouble abt them till they were Sold.





Mr Maules Remarks

In examining the Accot of Sale of Gerrard Readheads Stock at Whittles the 5 May 1736 Sent up to the Board by the Recers in their Letter of the 27 March I find they have omitted to Credit said Readhead for a Cow which appears to have been Sold to John Newton & for which he had pd the Recers in part of the Paid Cow as appears by their Cash Accot the 12th Febry 1736/7 £4.10  Qry what this Cow was Sold for & why left out of the Accot there is due by James Gaire & Mattw Dodds a Note of hand payable last Novemr for £4.5.- & by Mr Richd Dobson £50 for the Crop of Corn Sold him, neither of which are brought to Accot.



Receivers Answer

The Sale of Gerrard Readheads goods & the appraizment thereof is Sent herewith, which Shews that there was not a Cow Sold to John Newton, & it is a mistake in as that £4.10 is brought to Accot the 12th February last, in part for a Cow Sold.  as it Should have been £4.5.- in full for the Cow Sold Gare & Dodds one of whom is a Servt to the said Newton.  This mistake is Sett right in our Cash Accot for the Month of April.  The £50 was due from Mr Richd Dobson the 1st Inst & will be punctually paid.  & the whole of the Readheads Stock & Crop Sold amounted to no more than £96.15.4





Mr Maules Remarks

The Receivers has Charged in their Cash Accounts Money pd for Cording 93 Cord of Wood £9.6 but have not brought to Accot any money reced for that Wood, nor taken any Notice what it is Sold for, tho’ some of it appears to have been Sold above 12 Months.



Receivers Answer

There was 93 Cord of Wood Sold to Mr Joseph Cotton, Vizt 77 at 6s & 16 at 5s which was Cutt out of the refuse Wood Cutt down for the branches in Devils Water Widehaugh & Fourstones and by Agreement was to be Charr Coated & taken away before Marts 1737 & we will take care that it shall be So coated & pay’d for before or at that time.  But as it is not possible to preserve it without some Embezilment it may probably fall some small matter Short of the Quantity above, tho’ we hope it will not.





Mr Maules Remarks

They write the Board the 5 Novr 1736, that they had Converted in to Money the Weedings of the Woods at Newlands & Whittonstall amounting to £55.15.101/2d but I don’t find they have brought to Accot any more than £51.4.5d



Receivers Answer

The £51.4.5d part of the amount of the Weedings at Newlands was all that we reced for at that time, but by our Cash Accot the beginning of this Month the remaining part will appear to have been reced & is there brought to Accot by us.





Mr Maules Remarks

In looking over the List of Arrears due by Several Tennants at Martinmas 1734 delivered to me by order of the Board the 13th April 1737 I observe that most of these Tents have Continued in the same Farms are Reputed good Men & have pd Rent to the present Recers tho’ no Notice has been taken of these Arrears



Receivers Answer

The List of Arrears due at Martinmas 1734 has been examined by us & some pretend to have paid the late Recers others Claim Allowance etc which they have not yett been able to Shew were Just, & till Such time as these matters in dispute were Settled we did not apprehend it necessary to trouble the Board therewith.  But on being Informed that an Extent was issued against some of the Persons in the returned List of Arrears we acquainted the Board whose Orders we wait before we proceed any further in making any demands.  Note that Mr Watson’s List of Arrears seem to amount to no more than £508.19.91/2d tho’ it is neither Cast up nor Signed by him.





Mr Maules Remarks

Mr Francis Anderson of Alnwick quitted his Farm at Mayday 1736 & was then further in Arrears or appears by the Receivers Cash Accot £38.15. in all £59.16.10 of which none have been reced.



Receivers Answer

Mr Francis Anderson of Alnwick Farmed the Tyths of Larbottle & Alnwk House & Closes from Marts 1734 to Mayday 1735 & was in the Rentall Sent us by the Secretary returned at £44.10.  He has paid us £38 & is in Arrears £36.15 as will appear by the List of Arrears at Marts last besides what he is in Arrears at Marts 1734.





Mr Maules Remarks

Reynold Hall Esqr was putt out of the Collry he Rented at Mayday 1735, when it appears he was in Arrears 31/2 years Rent at £5 per Ann.  he is recommended as a preferable Tennant to James Dodds who has been Tennant Since Mayday 1735, but neither of ‘em have paid any Rent as yet to the Hospitall.



Receivers Answer

Reynold Hall Esqr was putt out of the Collry at Greenhead by James Dodds at Mayday 1735 when he was in Arrears 31/2 years Rent at £5 per Annum & it is very true that neither of ‘em has paid any Rent to the Hospital, but that has been altogether occasioned by the dispute of the Right in that Royalty.  Mr Hall we always looked upon as a preferable Tennant to James Dodds yett with regard to the Claim being given up, we tho’t it preferable that James Dodds should be admitted Tennant, and he was admitted Tennant accordingly.  As to the Arrear that is now due the necessary Steps shall be taken for the recovery thereof after we have reced the Boards further Commands.





Mr Maules Remarks

There is amongst the Fee Farme Rents said to be in Arrears one Gibson Charged for some Lands at Corbridge 6s per Ann which I don’t find in any Rentall either of the late or present Receivers & Sevll others said to be in Arrear for the year 1734 have pd for the year 1735 I humbly conceive the present Receivers might easily discover the said Arrears are due or not, and if they are realy due that they should in Obedience to a Minute of the Board of the 17 November 1736 take proper Methods to recover the same to the Hospital.  The Amount per List is £512.9.91/2 but shou’d be £516.9.91/2



Receivers Answer

The 6s per Annum was not in the Rental Sent us by the Secretary, but amongst the Rest of the Examinations we have made about these Arrears we find it is due & has been paid to Mr Watson, we mean the 3 years returned in Arrear, & we will take care to receive the growing Rent.





These Answers we humbly offer to the Consideration of the Honble Board of Directors for Greenwich Hospital, to whom we hope they will be Satisfactory & are their Honours

                  Most Obedt & most Humble Servts

                                Nichos Walton

                                Hugh Boag
William Corbett was Secretary to the Board and Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital.

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The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project aimed to celebrate and discover the heritage of the Dukesfield Arches & lead carriers' routes between Blaydon and the lead mines of Allendale and Weardale. A two year community project, it was led by the Friends of the North Pennines in partnership with Hexhamshire and Slaley Parish Councils and the active support of Allendale Estates. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous support of other sponsors. Friends of the North Pennines: Charity No:1137467